NRDC, Citizen Groups Reach Legal Settlement with NYC and State to Clean Up Jamaica Bay

Today marks a critical milestone in the effort to restore Jamaica Bay -- the crown jewel of the city’s green spaces. With more than 25,000 acres of water, marsh, meadowland, beaches, dunes and forests in Brooklyn and Queens – and accessible by subway – Jamaica Bay is a coveted refuge for wildlife and New Yorkers alike. But decades of pollution from city sewage treatment plants have devastated it, and today there is reason for hope: New York City, New York State, and four environmental groups led by NRDC today completed a legal settlement that will guarantee significant improvements to the health of Jamaica Bay. Photo by Don Riepe After reaching an “agreement-in-principle” last year in lieu of litigation, the environmental groups have now put the legal teeth in the deal – in the form of a detailed, enforceable settlement. The settlement ensures the city will substantially r...